diff --git a/panda/src/egg/eggGroup.cxx b/panda/src/egg/eggGroup.cxx
index 396655297a..b68775598b 100644
--- a/panda/src/egg/eggGroup.cxx
+++ b/panda/src/egg/eggGroup.cxx
@@ -287,10 +287,10 @@ write(ostream &out, int indent_level) const {
 
   EggRenderMode::write(out, indent_level + 2);
 
-  EggGroupNode::write(out, indent_level + 2);
-
   write_vertex_ref(out, indent_level + 2);
 
+  EggGroupNode::write(out, indent_level + 2);
+
   indent(out, indent_level) << "}\n";
 }